Tuesday, September 9, 2008
D*C 2008 – Day 4
I slept late and felt like hell. Not that it matter, it was Dragon Con and the show must go on. Once we were awake, I headed to pick up some lunch – breakfast was a distant memory.
After lunch, it was off to a much less crowded Exhibition Hall and Dealer's Room. We wandered through and I have to admit I was a complete Corset Nazi. I checked them all out and was not happy with any of them. I'm such a snob!
At some point, Darrell got caught up with some 501st stuff, so Kindra and I headed for the Pulse Loft. I really do like that place. We chilled, had a little ice cream and relaxed. Kindra went to grab some pork product (those are her words, not mine) and came back with Jesse in his TK and Bob in the Royal Guard in tow. At least Jesse got to troop a little.
After a short break, they were off to troop some more and we were off to prep the room for the night’s festivities. It has become a tradition to pile into one room (mine usually), drink heavily, and watch the Costume Contest. I think there were 13-15 people in the room. It was crowded but fun. Kindra and K were in rare form and had us laughing so hard we cried!!
After the Costume Contest, most of the Crew decided to head down stairs to the Pirate Party. I helped them dress, took pictures and sent them on their way! They didn’t stay at the Pirate Party very long but I think they had a good time.
D*C 2008 – Day 3
Of all people, Darrell was the one up at the crack of dawn. Steve V. was coming by the room to suit up in his Biker Scout and Darrell had to get all his R*C armor on by 8:30am. They had to be at the parade line up @ 9am. I guess that's why the 501st always seems to be the most organized (and largest) group in the parade.
The pirates, on the other hand, slowly got it together and made the line up around 9:45am. Luckily, Holly was able to grab her badge and walk with us! Deneen was fully decked out as a pirate for the first time and was a very popular pirate. I know a good thing when I see it – please notice the placement of the Bunny Beads. Jesse, Thi, DTag and Josh carried the bead bags and kept us supplied with beads for… most of the parade – they just go so fast! And of course our trusty flag bearer Bob. I don't know what I would do without Bob and the Bead Boys.
It was a huge parade this year. Here are some of the other highlights.
Maybe it was just me (or the many pauses in this year’s parade) but it was hot. It seemed to take a lot more out of me this year than last (that could be age – but I don't want to think about it!) So after the parade, it was off to change clothes and relax a little. Jesse's Mafia had arrived but was having room issues so they made a pit stop by our room. Luckily, Jesse & Bob came and grabbed them so we could change. I had me, Kindra, Darrell, DTag, Steve V. and Steve P. all changing in my room and trust me, that took some space! After Kindra and Steve were kind enough to grab us some lunch, DTag & Steve went to hit some panels, Holly & I set off for the Dealer's Room and the rest of the guys took a beak. Darrell was supposed to start Bob's makeup at 2:30 but at 3:45pm, they were still sitting around the room. I shooed them off to Jesse's for makeup.
Kindra and I decided to walk around some while all the rest of the crew was getting in costume. We knew it would take a while for Bob's makeup. While we were relaxing on the big red sofas in the Marriott, we hooked up with Kristen and a giddy Josh. Josh had gotten Michael Rosenbaum's (Lex Luther in Smallville) autograph. Around 6:30, we headed back to the room; D was heading down to my room so I could finish putting her in the Padme costume. Poor Jesse, I think he had 15 people in his room getting ready but they all looked great! In addition to Friday nights RC, Padme, Anakin & Vader, we had Mystique, Emma Frost, an Elf, the Baroness, a Biker Scout and the Emperor. The only bummer was that Jesse didn't get into his TK. So that was 10 people in costume with four handlers. It was interesting. Most of the time we were in the Marriott (the costume friendly hotel) and soon realized we just couldn't really stay all together. The Stars Wars kept together and the others went strolling.
At one time, Darrell, Steve V. and DTag recreated there three hitchhiking ghosts pose in the Star Wars garb. It was great!
The rest of the evening was just one photo op after another.
The one thing I truly enjoyed (of course it's all about me) was some of the wonderfully kind compliments I had on the Padme corset.
I hated to leave the party early but I was starting to come down with Con Crud, so I headed back to the room and turned in somewhere around midnight.
D*C 2008 – Day 2
The calls started early. Thi got downstairs and was able to get his room on the same floor as mine and a corner room! Sandy & Heath checked in to the Marriott and were on the 44th floor. It was a morning of coordinating and organizing and then it was off for some lunch in the food court. The food court was completely packed and hot so we decided to carry lunch over to the Marriott. One of the new locations in the Marriott since the remodel is called Pulse Loft. It is a mezzanine that looks out over the Registration Level in the front of the hotel. We were able to grab a table and chairs for a nice and relaxing lunch. D and K arrived and Jesse helped them get settled before they came over to join us at the Marriott. It was about 1:30pm and K received a phone call that the line to meet Sean Astin was short, so headed that way as quickly as possible. Kindra and I had cameras and were ready to catch the moment. The autographs get more and more expensive each year and they are starting to restrict photos. Astin's was $30. Since this was THE thing that K wanted, price didn't matter. K is a HUGE 'Rudy' fan. I tried to sneak a picture – it was labeled as no photos allowed. You can see Sean and K's hand. I guess it's better than nothing. While we were in the Walk of Fame, Darrell was able to get Robert Llewelynn's autograph (he was Kryton on 'Red Dwarf') and I was able to snag of picture of the two of them. Even Jesse broke down and purchased David Prowse's 8x10. Once we did our loop around the Walk of Fame and was sufficiently star struck, we headed back to the rooms with a giddy K in tow.
Kindra and I took advantage of the afternoon to prep all the Bunny Beads. Thanks heavens for the Quartermaster, she helped me sticker 150 strands of Bunny Beads!!
That evening was Pirate Tea. I prepped the room and drinks. The agenda was short and sweet. Who was walking in the parade, who needs costuming and who is going to Tybee needs to sign waivers.
Once Pirate Tea was over, we decided to give the costumes a test run. Darrell needed to check how his would wear with the new leg tubes and I just wanted to see the reactions to D as Padme. And to make things interesting, we suited DTag as Darth and K as Anakin. Once they were all dressed, it was off to the lobby. We had four in costume and 4 handling – that made it easy on everyone. We wondered the Hyatt lobby and then headed to the Marriott (which now has so much more space and actually provides chairs and sofas to sit on OUTSIDE the bar – novel concept). The Marriott is definitely the 'costume' hotel and I think we will be staying there next year. I am already researching the room layouts.
The costumes went over well and there were many pictures. Before heading back to my room, I had to go by and see Holly – it had been years and I couldn't wait to lay eyes on her. I stayed till my eyes wouldn't stay open. I had to get some sleep before the parade in the morning.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Disney 2008 - MNSSHP
The FBO (without the 1) head to Disney in 2 weeks for a week of fun and the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I came across this picture of Mickey and Minnie's new Halloween outfits for 2008 and just thought it was an awesome picture. Hope you like it!
Dragon Con 2008 - Day 1
Luckily, we arrived before noon on Thursday. I snagged the last corner room in the Hyatt’s International Tower. The first chore is always unpacking. It is amazing the amount of stuff you can fit into a hotel room. Thank goodness for large closets! There wasn't a lot going on but the constant stream of text messages and phone calls kept me busy most of the afternoon. Everyone was checking in to see what and where the evening plans were. We did a little sight seeing around the Hyatt and Marriott. The Marriott remodeling was done and it was gorgeous!!
Our crew started trickling in around 6pm for badge pickup, so around 6:30pm, a group of us decided to head down to the badge line - big, long, crazy line. Oh well, at least the sun was going down and there was good company. By 7:45, most of us had badges and set out for a meet up at Trader Vic's in the Hilton. There were ten of us when all was said and done: D-Tag, Steve V., Steve P., Darrell, Josh, Kindra, Thi, Jay, Derek and me. It was ½ price Mia-Tia night, so (thanks to Jay and Derek) we found a place in the bar to relax and sip mia-tia's until our table was ready. The place was absolutely packed with Dragon Con people, so we felt right at home. It was good just to see everyone!
Jesse had gone back to the badge line with D and K so they would have a little guidance. After all it was their first Dragon Con. Luckily, they did make it by Trader Vic's to say 'Hello' and do a quick introduction with everyone. After good food and strong drink, I think we left Trader Vic's somewhere around 11'ish and headed back to the hotel. Thi was crashing in my room and Kindra took advantage of the extra bed in Jesse's room that night. Then it was off to sleep (something I can never do my first night in a hotel) for the craziness will begin tomorrow.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Service Announcement
Dragon Con has come and went. I was so busy before the convention that I did not have time to post anything. So for the next several days, I will be ‘retro’ posting some past events. But I will start with the Dragon Con experience.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Pirate Fest 2008 - Tybee Island Map
View Larger Map
This is a map of the Tybee Island 'Stuff'. It indicates the parade route, primary location of the Pirate Fest activities (the Pier), where the beach house is located and Fort Pulaski. Why Fort Pulaski? I think we could get some great photo's there on Friday morning. Check it out:
http://www.nps.gov/archive/fopu/local/
Tenative Schedule:
Thursday - Arrive at Tybee that afternoon.
Friday
Morning: Photo's @ Fort Pulaski & Beach
Evening: Photo's @ the Beach
Evening: Pirate Fest Activities
Saturday
Afternoon: Pirate Parade
Evening: Pirate Fest Activities
Sunday - Leave :(
The only things we need to do as a group are the parade and photo's. The rest of the time, just enjoy!
